Echoes
Pink Floyd (ROIO) Lyrics


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Overhead the albatross
Hangs motionless upon the air
And deep beneath the rolling waves
In labyrinths of coral caves
An echo of a distant time
Comes willowing across the sand
And everything is green and submarine
And no one called us to the land
And no one knows the where's or why's
Something stirs and something tries
Starts to climb toward the light

Strangers passing in the street
By chance two separate glances meet
And I am you and what I see is me
And do I take you by the hand
And lead you through the land
And help me understand
The best I can

And no one called us to the land
And no one crosses there alive
No one speaks and no one tries
No one flies around the sun

Almost everyday you fall
Upon my waking eyes
Inviting and inciting me
To rise
And through the window in the wall
Come streaming in on sunlight wings
A million bright ambassadors of morning

And no one sings me lullabys
And no one makes me close my eyes




So I throw the windows wide
And call to you across the sky

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of Pink Floyd's song "Echoes" set the tone for the entire piece. With an albatross hanging motionless overhead, and the sound of an echo of a distant time coming across the sand, the lyrics create an atmosphere of isolation and otherworldliness. The line "no one called us to the land" establishes the sense that the singers are outsiders, detached from society and living in an uncertain world.


As the song progresses, the lyrics continue to evoke a sense of isolation coupled with a longing for connection. The lines "Strangers passing in the street / By chance two separate glances meet / And I am you and what I see is me" suggest that despite the separation between individuals, there is a fundamental sameness that draws us together. The lines "And help me understand / The best I can" hint that this connection is difficult to fully grasp or communicate.


Throughout the song, the lyrics are paired with haunting melodies and atmospheric soundscapes that create a dreamlike feeling. From the eerie opening notes to the soaring crescendos later in the piece, "Echoes" is a showcase of Pink Floyd's ability to create immersive sonic environments that marry perfectly with their lyrics, emphasizing the sense of otherworldliness and detachment established in the words.


Line by Line Meaning

Overhead the albatross
High above, the albatross bird is suspended effortlessly in the air


Hangs motionless upon the air
The bird appears to be floating without making any movements


And deep beneath the rolling waves
Far below the waves of the ocean


In labyrinths of coral caves
Within complex and winding passages of coral caves


An echo of a distant time
A reverberation of a time long gone by


Comes willowing across the sand
Floats gently across the sandy beach


And everything is green and submarine
All that can be seen is green and underwater


And no one called us to the land
No one has summoned us to the shore or the land


And no one knows the where's or why's
There is no understanding of the reasons or the location of the call


Something stirs and something tries
An unknown force is shaking things up, attempting to accomplish something


Starts to climb toward the light
It begins to ascend toward the light


Strangers passing in the street
People who don't know each other as they walk down the street


By chance two separate glances meet
By happenstance, their gazes lock in on one another


And I am you and what I see is me
Somehow, you and I are interconnected, and I see myself in you


And do I take you by the hand
Should I lead you by the hand


And lead you through the land
Should I guide you through the land


And help me understand
So that you can assist me in achieving comprehension


The best I can
To the best of my abilities


And no one called us to the land
No one invited us to the land


And no one crosses there alive
No one has ever managed to cross the region alive


No one speaks and no one tries
No one has attempted to talk about or address the situation


No one flies around the sun
No one has flown around the sun


Almost everyday you fall
Every day, you almost seem to stumble into my life


Upon my waking eyes
I see you when I wake up in the morning


Inviting and inciting me
Tempting and encouraging me


To rise
To get up and start the day


And through the window in the wall
Out of the window, which is part of the wall


Come streaming in on sunlight wings
Beams of light enter through the window, resembling wings of sunlight


A million bright ambassadors of morning
Countless emissaries of the new day come with these lights


And no one sings me lullabys
There is no one to sing me a soothing song


And no one makes me close my eyes
No one commands me to close my eyes


So I throw the windows wide
Instead, I open the windows wide


And call to you across the sky
I shout out to you, far across the skies




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG Rights Management
Written by: David Gilmour, George Waters, Nicholas Mason, Richard Wright

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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